Baby names, is there a law where you live about what you can name your child?

There are no laws about baby names in the US. People can, and do, name their babies all kinds of things. I'm trying to think of the strangest name I ever heard, but all I can think of is a little boy I had in school. His name was Malcolm Detrez Martin, but he went by Trez.

There used to be here in Portugal but only on a religious basis.....it's a catholic country and I believe that the children had to have the name of a saint or Mary and Jesus. Most of the girls were called Mary and something else....like Maria João....Mary John......and the boys Jose Maria....Joseph Mary or Jesus and whatever. I have a friend who is Mary of Jesus.

here are no laws about baby names

I live in the USA. There is no law here about what you name your children. I actually didn't know there was a law anywhere until you posted this topic. It's really interesting though!

I have never encountered a restriction of this kind or even conceived that it was possible, and I would love to see the response if someone in the UK was told that their could not be given a certain name. The name that immediately springs to my mind as strange is the American Newt Gingridge.

I live in Peru.... (despite what my profile says, lol), and there's no law to name your kids some way... but in some cases there should be... poor kids named by their parents. There are a few Reencarnación (Reincarnation) Pérez over here... also some Washinton Evertong Mamani (nope, they're not typos, OMG!).

Germany has restrictions. You have to register your babies name at the local city hall to get it approved.

In the US there are no laws for names. You can name your child any stupid name you want! I cannot think of any bad names that weren't already mentioned, though one I can think of that I just couldn't name my own child would be Damien. Because that is the name of the child in the horror movie "the omen". If you move to Iceland from another country, do you have to do anything with your name? Or since the person is not from there do the Icelanders have to adapt to that new name? Like, I am Alexandra Rose...my kids are Amara Evelyn and Zachary Clark. Would they have to be changed or adapted or anything if I were to move there?? In the US we are soooo obcessed with all of our rights (somewhat out of control) that names would never fall under a law of any sort. I think that most people would think that a name law is outrageous but if it has to do with your language and the fact that certain names just could not be spoken, I guess I can understand that. There are a lot of people that come from other countries here and I don't understand how to say their names because it simply does not make sense to me.

Wow, I never knew there were laws such as that anywhere. I cant imagine that. Here in the US we are allowed to name our children anything we want. Even crazy and weird names.

Hæ ég er líka frá Íslandi svalt maður!!!!!

I don't think there's any rule here in India that says we can't name our kids what we want to. I personally don't know anyone with wierd names. But I guess you might find true Indian names pretty wierd and difficult to pronounce. Russian names sound funny to me..but I'm sure it's a very common name out there. So, strange baby names are subject to what you are used to hear.

Thats insane! I couldn't imagine people not being allowed to name their children what they like. Logisitically how can people stop a name? You can call someone a name that isn't oficially on their birth certificate? But here in Australia we can name people what we like.

I think people should have the right to name their kids whatever they want as long as the names aren't filthy or offensive. They have stupid rules here and don't allow people to use names that have been used here for a long time. I also don't think it's fair that my neighbour can name his kid a name that I wouldn't be allowed to use for mine, only because his grandfather was a foreigner.

i name my childs as ragava and ragavi

Hi Thats a new thing that I have learned. I am from India, and there is no such law. I cant suggest you a baby name as in India, there are quite different names which are kept.

nope...you can pretty much name your child anything here in the Philippines...and it sometimes is not a pretty thought...who wouldn't chuckle upon a 50-yr-old woman named twinkle or strawberry or someone who has "ping-ping" or "ping-pong" for a nickname? =)

The name that stands out for me is APPLE. I know others have mentioned it. I live in the States and I know that we don't have any rules about what you can name your children... at least I don't think we do... but I think we should. Some people have given their children the silliest names, and thats mean. Just like the celebrities giving dumb names to their kids. Being a kid is hard enough without having to deal with a embarassing name...you know??

I have not married. Does not have BB, but if I had BB, his name wasLi Jiacheng, with Li Jiaxin, I liked a boy and a girl

I never heard of that I feel you can name your child whatever you want.

No, but occasionally I wish it was. I have heard of some of the most rediculous names. The worst is the recent trend to make backwards words a name. For example eclarim, neaveh,and epoh. I don't get it.